The Effects of Low-Intensity Music in Adolescents With Anxiety
The Effects of Low-Intensity Music on Brain-Heart Function in Adolescents With Anxiety
Jiangsu Province Nanjing Brain Hospital
60 participants
Dec 15, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
In modern society, increasing attention has been devoted to mental health problems among adolescents, with anxiety and depressive disorders being particularly prevalent in this population. Evidence indicates that anxiety not only affects emotional states and daily quality of life but also has significant impacts on physiological health, including blood pressure and heart rate. At present, clinical treatment relies primarily on pharmacological interventions and cognitive behavioral therapy; however, these approaches are associated with limitations such as pronounced side effects and delayed onset of efficacy, which restrict their applicability in adolescents. Music and other structured sounds have been used since ancient times to alleviate negative emotional states such as tension and anxiety. Research has shown that listening to soothing music can reduce sympathetic nervous system activity while enhancing parasympathetic tone, thereby leading to a decrease in heart rate and an increase in heart rate variability (HRV). Owing to its gentle characteristics, low-intensity soothing music is considered effective in relieving stress, regulating emotional states, and exerting beneficial effects on physiological indicators.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Participants experiencing anxiety episodes were adolescents aged 18-25 years with a Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) score ≥ 5;
- Participants completed self-report symptom assessments via a digital mental health screening platform, alongside the collection of acoustic voice features, heart rate, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data;
- All participants were required to provide written informed consent;
Exclusion Criteria6
- History of major somatic illnesses, particularly those potentially associated with brain tissue alterations, such as hypertension, diabetes, or metastatic tumors; unstable physical conditions, including severe asthma; and a history of neurological abnormalities, including significant head trauma (loss of consciousness lasting more than five minutes), epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease, brain tumors, and neurodegenerative disorders;
- Somatic conditions that may induce mood disorder symptoms, such as multiple sclerosis or thyroid disorders;
- IQ below 70;
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD);
- Participants with significant substance abuse or dependence within the three months preceding enrollment were excluded;
- Participants at high risk for suicide or with a prior history of suicide attempts were excluded;
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Interventions
Participants will listen to pre-selected low-intensity soothing music under standardized experimental conditions. Anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms will be assessed before and after the intervention. In parallel, heart rate variability (HRV) and fNIRS will be recorded to evaluate the short-term clinical effects of the music intervention and to explore its potential neurophysiological mechanisms.
Participants listen to recorded environmental sounds matched in decibel to the music group, for \~15 minutes. Baseline and post-intervention assessments are identical to the music group, including self-report questionnaires, fNIRS, and ECG recordings.
Locations(1)
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NCT07492472